board game for enhancing mental skills through formation of shapes and patterns

ABSTRACT

A board game for two to four players comprising a playing board having twenty-five recessed square spaces arranged in a grid of five rows and five columns. One-hundred triangular chips in four colors consisting of twenty-five chips per color intended to removably fill said square spaces wherein four triangular chips capable of being snugly fitted within one square space. The objective is to fill the spaces with chips forming different forms or shapes as well as patterns corresponding to points or score wherein the first player that reached at least twenty-one points and calls “DEAL” wins. Players should therefore prevent each opponent from reaching the winning point. Any player, who calls “DEAL” whose combination of forms is below twenty-one points, commits “FALSE ALARM” and shall be penalized. In an event when no player has earned twenty-one points, the winner will be the player with the highest point.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a game but more particularly to aboard game playable by two or four players.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The concept of this board game is simulating an art competition bycombining of colored playing chips and forming shapes, forms andpatterns equivalent to corresponding points. The players shall act asartists and compete for that winning entry or combination of forms.

Various types and forms of board games are available in the market.Board games which aid in developing and enhancing mental skills andawareness has been developed in recent years.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,952 disclosed a board game wherein the playing boardhas color-coded sides and color chips. Each side of color-coded chipsare placed by opposing players on the playing board adjacent to othercolor chips and the color-coded sides of the board so that the colors ofeach adjacent chip match one another and so that the color of each chipwhich is adjacent to a color-coded side of the board also matches thecolor-coded side. However, this board game does not include teachings onplaying the chips and forming a particular shape or pattern aside fromthe fact that the board and chips are entirely different from what isdisclosed in the subject invention.

Moreso, the board game being disclosed herein simulates art competitionwherein each of said colored chips are to be filled inside a squarespaces forming a particular shape and/or pattern that corresponds to acertain point. The invention partakes the nature of a tool for mentalexercise intended to help develop mental alertness, creative strategy,abstract thinking and observation skills while having fun at the sametime. It is expected that this invention will also make bonding withfamily and friends more exciting and enjoyable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a board game which serves as atool for mental exercise since playing the game would require theplayers' intense attention, mental analysis, concentration andarithmetic calculations. Every player shall think thoroughly everytimethe opponents move while at the same time, the player has to come-upwith his/her own unique strategic moves to be ahead in reaching for thatwinning entry/combination of forms. It is expected that this mentalexercise will help develop ones mental alertness, creative strategy,abstract thinking and observation skills and that the mental challengeoffered by the invention would create fun and excitement among thechallengers, most especially, while bonding together with family andfriends.

The invention discloses a board game playable by two to four playerscomprising a playing board being provided with a plurality of identicalrecessed polygonal spaces being arranged in a grid of rows and columns.The polygonal spaces are preferably square spaces of identical size.

A plurality of identically-shaped playing chips intended to removablyfill said plurality of recessed polygonal spaces are also disclosedwherein four of said playing chips are intended to snugly fit within onepolygonal space. The plurality of playing chips comprises one hundredtriangular chips equally divided into four different colors distributedto four different players respectively. The colors of triangular chipspreferably blue, green, red and orange wherein the size of each chip issubstantially a quarter of one polygonal space which is a square.

The recessed polygonal spaces being defined by twenty-five squaresarranged in a grid of five rows and five columns.

It is to be understood that specific colors and quantities beingmentioned herein are modifiable by any person skilled in the art. Thosemodifications however, would resort to falling within the scope of thisinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the invention will become readilyapparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detaileddescription of the invention when considered in the light of theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1—is a top view of the playing board of present invention;

FIG. 2—is a representation of triangular chips showing initials of fourpreferred colors such as blue, green, red and orange;

FIG. 3—is an illustration of various formation that can be done out oftriangular chips wherein each corresponds to particular points;

FIG. 4—is an illustration of “Shark Teeth” pattern that can be made outof the triangular chips of the present invention;

FIG. 5—is an illustration of another pattern called “Flag” that can bemade out of the triangular chips of this invention;

FIG. 6—is an illustration of another pattern “Bird”;

FIG. 7—is an illustration of pattern dubbed as “Corners Zigzag”;

FIG. 8—shows another pattern called “Kite Formation”;

FIG. 9—shows a pattern called “Cuadro”;

FIG. 10—illustrates a pattern called “Cross”.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in details, there is shown in FIG. 1 aplaying board designated as 1 having twenty-five square spaces 2 beingarranged in a grid of five rows and five columns.

FIG. 2 shows triangular chips 5 having four different colors preferablyblue chip 7, green chip 8, red chip 9 and orange chip 10. Total numberof triangular chips 5 is one hundred having the same size. Each chip isabout a quarter of the size of one square space 2. The triangular chips5 are equally divided into four consisting of twenty-five blue,twenty-five green twenty-five red, and twenty-five orange.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown formation patterns that could beformed by any player in order to score points:

Papillion Form 11—is an arrangement of two same-colored chips disposedin opposite manner with each other within a square space 2 and whichshall have an equivalent of two points;Kite Form 12—is an arrangement of two same-colored chips disposedside-by-side each other within a square space 2 and which shall have anequivalent of two points;Pot Form 13—is an arrangement of three same-colored chips laid-downside-by-side each other within square space 2 and which shall have anequivalent of three points;Box Form 14—is an arrangement of four same-colored chips snugly fittedwithin a square space 2 and which shall have an equivalent of eightpoints.

FIG. 4 shows a pattern of a triangular chip with their correspondingpoints:

Three “Shark Teeth” form 15-15—is an arrangement of three same-coloredchips disposed in series along the same plane within three adjacenthorizontal or vertical square spaces 2 and which shall have anequivalent of three points; Four Shark Teeth form 16-16—is anarrangement of four same-colored chips disposed in series along sameplane within four adjacent horizontal or vertical square spaces 2 andwhich shall have an equivalent of eight points; Five Shark Teeth form17-17—is an arrangement of five same-colored chips disposed in seriesalong same plane within five adjacent horizontal or vertical squarespaces 2 and which shall have an equivalent of fifteen points.

-   -   FIG. 5 shows the following patterns or forms with their        corresponding points:        Three “Flags” form 18-18—is an arrangement of three same-colored        chips disposed in parallel, one after another or on top or below        each other, in similar orientation within three adjacent        horizontal or vertical square spaces 2 and which shall have an        equivalent of three points;

Four Flags form 19-19—is an arrangement of four same-colored chipsdisposed in parallel, one after another or on top or below each other,in similar orientation within four adjacent horizontal or verticalsquare spaces 2 and which shall have an equivalent of eight points;

Five Flags form 20-20—is an arrangement of five same-colored chipsdisposed in parallel, one after another or on top or below each other,in similar orientation within five adjacent horizontal or verticalsquare spaces 2 and which shall have an equivalent of fifteen points.

Shown in FIG. 6 are the following patterns and forms with theircorresponding points:

Three “Birds” form 21-21—is an arrangement of three same-colored chipsdisposed diagonally in same orientation within three adjacent diagonalsquare spaces 2 and which shall have an equivalent of three points;

Four Birds form 22-22—is an arrangement of four same-colored chipsdisposed diagonally in same orientation within four adjacent diagonalsquare spaces 2 and which shall have an equivalent of eight points;

Five Birds form 23-23—is an arrangement of five same-colored chipsdisposed diagonally in same orientation, within five adjacent diagonalsquare spaces 2 and which shall have an equivalent of fifteen points;Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown another pattern that could beformed by any player in order to score points:

Three “Corners Zigzag” form 24-24—is an arrangement of threesame-colored chips disposed alternately in opposite orientation withinthree adjacent horizontal or vertical square spaces 2 and which shallhave an equivalent of three points;

Four Corners Zigzag form 25-25—is an arrangement of four same-coloredchips disposed alternately in opposite orientation within four adjacenthorizontal or vertical square spaces 2 and which shall have anequivalent of eight points;

Five Corners Zigzag form 26-26—is an arrangement of five same-coloredchips disposed alternately in opposite orientation within five adjacenthorizontal or vertical square spaces 2 and which shall have anequivalent of fifteen points.

Another pattern is shown in FIG. 8 called a “Kite Formation” pattern, anarrangement of ten same-colored chips forming a combination of four Kiteforms 12 disposed diagonally having same orientation, in four adjacentdiagonal, vertical or horizontal square spaces 2 plus one Papillion form11 disposed at any point along said playing board 1 which shall have anequivalent of twenty-one points.

In view now of FIG. 9, there shows a “Cuadro” pattern, which is anarrangement of ten same-colored chips, eight of which are disposed atthe four corners of playing board 1 wherein each corner having one KiteForm 12 plus one Papillion Form 11 disposed at any point along saidplaying board 1 which shall also have an equivalent of twenty-onepoints.

Another pattern to score twenty-points instantly is shown in FIG. 10dubbed as “Cross” pattern, which is an arrangement of ten same-coloredchips formed into five Papillion Form 11 wherein four papillion beingdisposed each at the middle portion of pair of opposing outermost rowsand columns of playing board 1 and the other one being disposed at thecentermost square space wherein, upon connecting five papillion, wouldresemble a cross-shaped pattern. Each of the five papillion is disposedat any orientation either by vertical or horizontal as clearly shown inFIG. 10. This pattern shall have an equivalent of twenty-one points.

Rules in Winning the Game:

Below are the rules of winning in this board game. Challenger refersalso to player in this entire specification.

-   1) The Challenger who comes-up ahead of the other Challengers a    combination of forms including the required two (2) Papillion Forms    11 (FIG. 3) except in “Kite Formation” (FIG. 8) and in “Cuadro”    (FIG. 9) where only one (1) Papillion Form 11 (FIG. 3) is required    with an equivalent of, at least, Twenty-One (21) Points and who    calls or announces the word “DEAL” shall be the winner.-   2) The Right-To-Win of a Challenger is Forfeited if he/she fails to    call or announce the word “DEAL”, although his/her chips arrangement    has already reached an equivalent of, at least, twenty-one points,    in favor of another Challenger, who calls/announces “DEAL” although    only second, third or fourth to reach an equivalent of at least    twenty-one points.-   3) Each challenger is subject to “penalties”. The Challenger who    earns the highest points after penalties, even if below    twenty-one (21) points shall be the Winner, in any of the following:    -   3.1 In the Event, that the Challenger who misdeclares and        announced “DEAL” without reaching yet the winning points commits        a False Alarm and the Challengers proceed to the counting of        points earned by each of them after penalties.    -   3.2 In the Event, that all the Challengers' chips have already        been filled or placed in the playing board 1 but no Challenger        called or announced “DEAL”, the Challengers proceed to the        counting of points earned by each of them after penalties.-   4) Penalties    -   4.1 Penalty for failure to come-up with the required Papillion        Form/s:        -   Challengers are required to make at least two (2) Papillion            Forms 11 (FIG. 3) except in “Kite Formation” (FIG. 8) and            “Cuadro” (FIG. 9) where only one (1) Papillion Form 11            (FIG. 3) is required for each. Failure to do so shall            subject the Challenger to the following penalties:

No. of Papillion Points to be deducted Forms Missed from Total Score Two(2) −6 One (1) −3

-   -   4.2 Penalty For Committing False Alarm        -   A Challenger who called “DEAL” but upon count verification            he/she has not garnered twenty-one (21) points, has            committed a “False Alarm” and shall be penalized by            deducting six (6) points from total points earned.

How to Play:

-   -   1. Assignment/Playing of the four (4) sets of colored chips.        -   1.1 If there are only two Challengers, each Challenger must            be assigned and play two sets of colored playing chips 5 but            scoring shall be on a per color basis.        -   1.2 If there are three (3) Challengers, each Challenger            shall be assigned to play one set of twenty-five pieces same            colored chips. The fourth set of colored chips shall be set            aside, unless, the challengers will agree that one of them            shall play two sets of colored chips but scoring shall be on            a per color basis. The challengers may take turn in playing            with two (2) colored sets.        -   1.3 If there are four Challengers, each Challenger shall            play one set of twenty-five pieces of same colored chips.    -   2. Picking who will make the first move        -   The Challenger shall pick through “toss coins” or any other            ways of selecting as to who will make the first move, as may            be agreed upon.    -   3. Making Moves        -   3.1 The Challenger picked to make the first move shall            lay-down one chip at any square space 2 on the playing board            1. Other Challengers follow, in clock-wise sequence, by            laying down one chip, at a time at any square space of their            choice. If there are only two Challengers, each Challenger            shall make one move at a time, alternately, on a per color            basis.        -   3.2 The objective of each Challenger's move or laying down            of chips shall be to come-up with a combination of forms, as            illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 10, that would have an equivalent            of, at least, Twenty-One (21) Points, or to block/prevent            other Challengers from coming-up first with the said            combination of forms.

There are many possible variations of the rules which may be establishedand still allow the use of the basic concept of forming a shape orpattern of the colored playing chips 5 placed by opponents on theplaying board 1. The actual colors used, as well as the point valueassigned in formation and patterns formed may be varied. The size of theplaying board, as well as the size of the playing chips 5 are subject tovariation. The number of square spaces 2, as well as the number ofcolored playing chips 5, may be varied. Scoring may be dispensed withentirely. This is especially advisable when the game is being played byyoung children. It has been found that even four year old children canenjoy the game if the goal is simply to match the colors and creation ofshapes and pattern without score keeping. They lack the sophisticationof a strategy to win but seem to enjoy the game on the level of a puzzlewithout the competitive motive to win.

1. A board game playable by two to four players comprising: a playingboard being provided with a plurality of identical recessed polygonalspaces being arranged in a grid of rows and columns, a plurality ofidentically-shaped playing chips intended to removably fill saidplurality of recessed polygonal spaces in order to form a particularpattern wherein four chips are intended to snugly fit within onepolygonal space.
 2. The board game as claimed in claim 1 wherein, saidrecessed polygonal spaces being defined by twenty-five square spacesarranged in a grid of five rows and five columns.
 3. The board game asclaimed in claim 1 wherein, said playing chips comprises one hundredtriangular chips equally divided into four different colors distributedto four different players respectively.
 4. The board game as claimed inclaim 3 wherein, said triangular chips having a size substantially aquarter of one square space.
 5. The board game as claimed in claim 1wherein, said pattern corresponds to a certain score or points.